Out of Breath // pjm.

XVII / Date

I mussed up my hair and tucked my sunglasses into my t shirt as I walked into the busy coffee shop. I pulled my phone out and glanced at the time.

5:06 pm.

Only mildly late.

I looked around the outdoor seating area as I made for the indoors. Is he late?

Surprisingly, I wasn't in the least bit nervous. Like it was a casual hangout with an already familiar friend.

I walked inside, scanning the tables, and a beige sweatshirt slid right in front of me.

"Hi," a familiar voice spoke and I glanced up.

"Hey," I smiled back at him.

"Jaehyun," he held his hand out, "in the flesh. And please, call me Jaehyun."

"Tara," I shook his hand, "why? Are you older than me?"

"How old are you?" he enquired, letting go of my hand.

"almost 21. You?"

"23. So, call me Jaehyun," he laughed.

Ooh, he's cute.

"You're not Korean," he started to explain, spotting my inquisitive frown, "and I don't care for honorifics."

"From non-koreans?" I frown-smiled.

"in general. But Koreans are particular about it," he smiled, "you're not, I'm guessing."

"Only when it's required," I shrugged.

"umm hmm," he smiled and motioned toward a table, tucking his hand behind his back.

"Oh no," I jumped forward, "I'm doing the buying since I'm doing the thanking," I stated, making for the counter, "coffee?"

"Thanking for what?" he nodded.

I frowned. 

"For not being a weirdo, I guess," I stood by him, reading the menu on the wall.

"Thanks," he laughed, "men set the bar pretty low, huh?"

I smiled at his casual statement, "no... yes, I mean, sometimes."

"Okay, then," he chuckled, "one vanilla frappe, and?" he prompted.

"One iced Americano, please," I smiled at the cashier and Jaehyun made a face.

"I'm surprised you remember what it's called," he teased.

"what do you mean?" I frowned.

"Oh, of course you don't remember," he laughed, "at the bar the other day... you forgot what water is called."
I grimaced, "what the hell does that mean?"

"you came to the bar looking for water. But you forgot the word for it," he laughed again at my disgusted expression.

"Are you serious?" I cringed.

"Very," he sat thanking the server and picking up the tray of coffee, "it was hilarious. And kinda cute."

I cringed.

"that's not cute," I muttered, "it's stupid."

"True," he led us to a table outdoors, "but still cute."

We sat next to a cutesy couple under an umbrella and I scrambled to change the subject from my drunken idiocy.
"So, what do you do, Jaehyun?"

He stirred his coffee, mixing the cream with the liquid, "I'm in graphic design and illustration, for video games and stuff."

"Oh?" my brows shot up, "where?"

"At FGC," he stated.

"FGC?" I asked, surprised and he nodded.

"That's like one of the biggest companies here!" I exclaimed, taking a sip from my coffee.

He chuckled, "yeah, I'm pretty good," he shrugged in superficial arrogance.

"I would've argued but I don't know if I can," I shrugged.

"What about you?" he relaxed in his chair.

"Oh, I'm a designer and stylist."

He cocked his head to the side, expecting more information.

"And?"

"And what?"

"For who?" he prodded.

"At Bighit."

"Bighit Entertainment?" he prompted.

"Umm hmm," I nodded and gulped down more of my coffee.

"Like for BTS?" his eyes widened.

"Yeah," I pouted.

"Sweet," he smiled, "so do you get to hear their music before it comes out?"

"Sometimes," I laughed.

"Nice," he nodded, impressed, "so, are they as cool as they seem?"

"For the most part," I giggled and the conversation trailed to different places.

We talked about almost everything.

By the end of the date I discovered various things. Jaehyun was a bright man and he was a good listener. He was friendly and inquisitive and also liked his coffee unhealthily sweet.

It was nice.

But all the while, sitting across the table from an adorable and tall man, my mind jumped around, popping the image of Jimin and Hana up every now and then. I hated that I felt guilty for trying to move on.

But more than that, I hated the possibility that Jimin probably already had.